Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., said Wednesday that President Trump is asking for a primary opponent in the 2020 election with the way he is governing.
During an interview Wednesday on Georgia Public Broadcasting’s “Political Rewind,” Flake was asked if he believed Trump may face a Republican challenger in the presidential primary in 2020.
“I think that certainly depends on him,” Flake said. “I think he could govern in a way that he wouldn’t. But I think that the way, the direction he’s headed right now, just kind of drilling down on the base rather than trying to expand the base, I think he’s inviting one.”
Flake’s comments were first reported by CNN.
The president and Flake have gone head-to-head since before the election, when the Arizona senator refused to back Trump after the president was heard on an “Access Hollywood” tape making vulgar comments about women.
Since then, Flake has continued to oppose Trump and issued a scathing critique of the 2016 election and the president in his new book, Conscience of a Conservative.
Trump, meanwhile, has taken to his Twitter account to rebuke Flake, calling him “weak” and “toxic” on border security and crime.
Last week, the president signaled support for Kelli Ward, who is challenging Flake in the Republican primary for his Senate seat, and met with two other potential primary challengers to Flake, Arizona state treasurer Jeff DeWit and former state GOP Chairman Robert Graham before a campaign-style rally in Phoenix on Tuesday.
Trump continued with his attacks on Flake on Wednesday morning, saying the crowd in Phoenix was “not a fan of Jeff Flake, weak on crime and border.”
